Download Physics Course Descriptions

COURSE
TITLE
COURSE DESCRIPTION
PH-00X
PHYSICS EXIT INTERVIEW
All graduating students are required to meet with their department chairperson/program director to
finalize requirements for degree completion. Zero credits. Pass/Fail.
PH-100
PHYSICS SEMINAR
Discussions of topics in contemporary physics. One credit.
PH-111
GENERAL PHYSICS I
This is the basic course for those majoring in the physical and biological sciences, mathematics and
engineering. Vector methods, mechanics, and energy are studied. Prerequisite: MA 111. Offered fall
semester. Three credits.
PH-112
GENERAL PHYSICS II
A continuation of PH 111. Electricity and magnetism, wave motion, optics and topics from modern physics
are covered. Prerequisite: PH 111. Offered spring semester. Three credits.
PH-113
GENERAL PHYSICS I LABORATORY
Laboratory to accompany PH 111. Laboratory experiments include applications to kinematics, Newton's
Laws, and energy. One credit.
PH-114
GENERAL PHYSICS II LABORATORY
Laboratory to accompany PH 112. Laboratory experiments include applications to optics, electricity,
magnetism, and wave mechanics. One credit.
PH-211
MODERN PHYSICS I
A survey of atomic and nuclear physics including quantum physics. Prerequisites: PH 112, MA 114. Must
be taken with PH 213. Offered fall semester. Three credits.
PH-213
MODERN PHYSICS I LABORATORY
Laboratory to accompany PH 211. Laboratory experiments stress basic subjects such as atomic and
classical scattering, the particle and wave nature of both radiation and matter, radioactivity, and
spectroscopy. One credit.
PH-214
Intro to Fluids and Thermodynamics
Fluids covers the fundamentals leading to the continuity equation and Bernoulli's equation followed by a
detailed study of these equations with applications. Thermodynamics covers a detailed study of the
Kinetic Theory of gases and the first and second laws of thermodynamics with applications. Prerequisite:
MA 111. Offered every spring. Three credits.
PH-215
THERMODYNAMICS
A study of the basic concepts of both classical and statistical thermodynamics. Topics include work,
energy and entropy, the laws of thermodynamics, the Carnot cycle, heat engines, kinetic theory, and
classical and quantum statistics. Prerequisites: PH 112 and MA 114. Offered every other spring. Three
credits.
PH-221
CLASSICAL MECHANICS
A study of the fundamental principles of the motion of particles and rigid bodies, including vibrational
motion, an intorduction to the equations of Lagrange and Hamilton, and the two-body problem.
Prerequisites: PH 112, MA 112. Offered alternate years. Three credits.
PH-223
MECHANICS: STATICS
Forces in a plane and in space. Equivalent systems of forces. Equilibrium of rigid bodies. Centroids and
centers of gravity. Moments of inertia. Analysis of structures. Friction. Vectors used extensively.
Prerequisites: PH 111 and MA 112. Cross-listed as MA 223. Offered fall semester. Three credits.
PH-224
MECHANICS: DYNAMICS
Kinematics of particles. Kinetics of particles by: (a) force, mass and acceleration, (b) work and energy, (c)
impulse and momentum. Kinematics of rigid bodies. Plane motion of rigid bodies by: (a) forces and
accelerations, (b) energy and momentum methods. Mechanical vibrations. Vectors used extensively.
Prerequisite: MA 223. Cross-listed as MA 224. Offered spring semester. Three credits.
PH-225
STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Strength of Materials is an introductory materials science and engineering course. Students learn about
the influence of the structure of materials and inherent defects in materials on ultimate properties and
performance. The emphasis is on strength and failure of metals, ceramics, and polymers, but electrical
and thermal properties are also considered. Case studies are used to illustrate many of the instructional
modules. Prerequisites: CH 102, MA 111. Three credits.
PH-241
OPTICS
A study of the basic principles of physical optics. Studies in refraction, polarization, interference, and
diffraction based on the theory of electro-magnetic radiation. Prerequisites: PH 112, MA 114. Offered
alternate years. Three credits.
PH-243
OPTICS LABORATORY
Laboratory to accompany PH 241. Topics include lenses, mirrors, and prisms, as well as reflection,
refraction, polarization, interference, diffraction, and holography. One credit.
PH-244
ADVANCED LABORATORY
Experiments in various fields of physics focused on developing and applying a variety of common data
acquisition and analysis skills. One credit.
PH-251
ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS AND ELECTRONICS
A study, with laboratory, of the fundamental aspects of electrical and electronic circuits. The course
includes an overview of impedance, discrete semiconductor devices, operational amplifiers, sequential
and programmable logic, memory devices, and microcontrollers. It also includes fabrication of printed
circuit boards and soldering techniques for both through-hole and surface- mount components.
Prerequisites: PH 112 and MA 112. Offered fall semester. Two credits.
PH-252
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
An intermediate course in electromagnetic field theory. Extensive use is made of vector calculus. The
differential forms of Maxwell's equations are developed and investigated. Prerequisites: PH 111, PH 112,
MA 111, MA 112, MA 113 and MA 114. Offered every other spring. Three credits.
PH-261
ELECTRONICS
Covers the fundamental aspects of electronic circuits. Topics include voltage and current sources,
measurement techniques, the principles and application of impedance, Kirchhoff's Rules, Thevenin's
Theorem, semiconductors, solid-state devices, amplifiers and feedback, boolean algebra, digital logic,
Karnaugh Maps, programmable logic, FPGA's, memory, and microcontrollers. Extensive use is made of
Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software to allow students to follow circuit design from circuit
analysis and schematic diagram to finished printed circuit board artwork. Must be taken in conjunction
with PH 263 Electronics Laboratory. Prerequisites: PH 112 and MA 112. Offered fall semester. Three
credits.
PH-263
ELECTRONICS LABORATORY
Laboratory course to accompany PH 261 Electronics. Provides hands-on experience with real world
circuits along side the more theoretical development presented in PH 261. Includes measurement
techniques, passive filters, transistor and operational amplifiers, combinational and sequential digital
logic, and microcontrollers. Also includes design and fabrication of printed circuit boards and soldering
techniques for both through-hole and surface- mount components. Co-requisite: PH 261. One credit.
PH-311
MODERN PHYSICS II
Covers the study of the solution of the Schrödinger equation for both one and three dimensional systems,
the spin and orbital angular momentum for both one- and multi-electron atoms, quantum statistics, the
strong interaction and Yukawa potential, and an introduction to elementary particles. Prerequisite: PH
211. Offered every other spring. Three credits.
PH-322
QUANTUM MECHANICS
Quantum mechanics developed from a review of modern physics. Topics include the eigenvalue problem,
expectation values, particle in a box with applications in the areas of expectation values and transitions,
Hilbert spaces, superposition, commutators, symmetries and conservation laws, and angular momentum
(spin, orbital) operators and eigenstates. Prerequisite: PH 211. Offered alternate years. Three credits.
PH-341
CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
Covers topics including crystal structure, Bragg scattering, scattering amplitude and form factors, the
reciprocal lattice, lattice vibrations and quantization, phonon heat capacity, free electron gas, and energy
bands in solids (Brillouin zones, Bloch functions, and the Kronig-Penney model). Prerequisite: PH 211.
Offered every other spring. Three credits.
PH-350
INDEPENDENT STUDY--PHYSICS
May be repeated. Variable credit.
PH-360
HONORS COURSE
The subject and content will be specified when offered.
PH-370
MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS
An advanced course in the mathematical analysis of physical systems. Methods using linear algebra,
complex variables, Fourier analysis, Laplace transforms, and other special functions are studied. Analytical
software, such as Mathematica, may be used. Prerequisites: PH 111, PH 112, PH 213, and MA 114.
Offered every other spring. Three credits.
PH-381
RESEARCH
Investigation and experimentation or an approved internship leading to the completion of the required
senior thesis. One credit.
PH-550
PHYSICS INTERNSHIP
Work experience program extending the learning experience beyond the college into the world of work.
Students are employed in an area related to their academic endeavor. Academic credits are awarded
according to the extent of the work experience. The purpose of the program is to integrate academic
studies and employment activities. May be repeated. Variable credit.